Page 43 - All About History - Issue 09-14

Heroes & Villains
JESSE OWENS

“ His college coach Larry Snyder tuned own dry-cleaning business but it quickly folded.
He then did celebrity appearances and founded a
his technique, fixed his slow starts and baseball league; but still it was not enough. So he
decided to turn himself into a fairground attraction
made him run like a pro” and race whatever his employers told him to,
including horses. Despite critics saying it was below
did not attend even though he shook hands with never accept him as their equal. The bitter pill he an Olympiad’s dignity to sell himself as a circus
other champions in events before the 100 had to swallow was when he returned home act Owens felt he had no choice. He found steady
metres final. Owens was told Hitler had and realised that neither would America. employment during World War II through the US
‘an urgent appointment.’ He knew it Despite the ticker-tape parade in government, running fitness clinics and showing
was political. As Owens won more In order to New York and the fame from the off his physical prowess to keep up morale at home.
medals pressure mounted on national press he was still a black When the war ended he broke his speed record,
Hitler to show his face at the raise money to man living in the Thirties. After running 100 yards (91 metres) in 9.7 seconds during
award ceremonies. In the end support his family, the parade he was refused a baseball game in 1950. At the age of 37 he was still
the Olympic committee told Owens raced horses in service in all hotels in the city dubbed the ‘greatest track man of the past 50 years.’
him he would have to attend foreign countries for apart from The Pennsylvania Owens’ celebrity never completely waned and in
all or none of them. He chose but only on the condition that the rock-and-roll years of the Fifties, when an offer
the latter and in private he was entertainment he used the service lift. In Owens’ came through to go on a goodwill trip to Berlin, he
furious, screaming to an aide: own words: “When I came back to jumped at the chance. In the 15 years since he had
“These Americans should be ashamed my native country, after all the stories last been there, Berlin had changed dramatically;
of themselves, letting Negroes win their about Hitler, I couldn’t ride in the front bombs had decimated the city and the only way into
medals for them. I shall not shake hands with of the bus.” He and his fellow athletes had been the Olympic stadium was via army helicopter. When
this Negro!” treated like ‘trained seals’ by the Amateur Athletics he set foot inside the stadium he was met with
Owens was no fool; he knew Nazi Germany would Union (AAU), they had gone on tour before they thunderous applause; the racial prejudice had been
came home, appearing at events in Europe where replaced with acceptance. He addressed the crowds
the athletes were forced to sleep in aircraft hangers and spoke of liberty for all, proclaiming: “Stand fast
because the AAU refused to pay for hotels. When with us in the fight for freedom and democracy.”
he finally came home, Owens was penniless but As the United States government and its people
the commercial deals he was being offered on a moved on from segregation laws and inequality,
daily basis would allow him to support his family. Owens finally gained the recognition he deserved.
The AAU told him flatly that he wasn’t allowed to In 1976, president Gerald Ford awarded him the
accept them and that he had to ‘do what he was Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest US
told.’ Shocked and angered at the way he was being civilian honour. Owens had come a long way since
treated, he took the deals anyway and was stripped the small Alabama boy left his home with his family
of his amateur status. for better opportunities in 1922. In the words of his
He found the commercial money quickly dried wife Ruth: “Jesse was not an angry or bitter man.
up after he turned his back on amateur athletics. He didn’t hate anyone… he just wanted to make
By the end of the Thirties he was one of the most something of himself.” He died four years later, his
Owens won gold in the long famous Americans alive, yet he was desperately place cemented as one of the greatest sportsmen the
jump at the 1936 Olympic Games
poor. In an effort to raise money he started his world has ever seen.
Defining moment O Patron of African- O Ambassador of O Presidential
American baseball
Medal of Freedom
goodwill
The Berlin Olympics 1 August 1936 In order to raise In recognition of In recognition of
money for his family
his service to his
his charity work
At the high point of his athletics career, Owens is selected to and inspire future and promotion of country and the
represent his country at the Berlin Olympic Games. The games generations of African- sport in deprived world of sport,
are already steeped in controversy even before he sets foot in Nazi American sportsmen, areas in the US, American president
Germany, as many minority groups call on world powers to boycott Owens co-founds the Dwight Eisenhower Gerald Ford
the games because of the Nazis’ racist policies. Owens is determined West Coast Baseball makes Owens an awards Owens the
to compete like he never has done before and win gold for his Association with ambassador of Presidential Medal
Abraham M Saperstein,
goodwill. He visits
of Freedom, the
country. He competes in track and long jump competitions and goes owner of the Harlem Berlin and the 1956 highest civilian
on to win four gold medals in the 100 metres, 200 metres, relay Globetrotters Olympic Games honour in the
and long jump events. Hitler refuses to shake his hand by excusing basketball team. in Melbourne. United States.
himself from the stadium when Owens is awarded his medals. 9 March 1946 22 August 1951 1976
1980
O Stripped of amateur status O Declared bankrupt O FBI probe O Convicted of tax Death of a champion O
Owens becomes a national hero After trying unsuccessfully Owens and his evasion Owens dies of late-
and is awarded a ticker-tape to go into business with family become the Owens is convicted of stage lung cancer
parade when he returns home, a dry-cleaning company, target of an FBI tax evasion, a crime caused by his
but is still poor. He takes money Jesse is forced to declare investigation to that carries a hefty jail excessive smoking
from commercial organisations, himself bankrupt and determine if he is a sentence. He apologises habits since his
leading the Amateur Athletics spends the next couple ‘loyal American.’ This for his inability to keep teenage years. His
Union to strip him of his of years doing guest comes after Owens track of his finances and legend as a top
amateur status, preventing him appearances to make publicly supports the pays his tax bill, avoiding Olympiad lives on to
from competing at amateur events. money. fight for civil rights. a prison sentence. this very day. © Alamy; Corbis
24 August 1936 5 May 1939 August 1956 1 February 1966 31 March 1980
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